FIRE ANT STINGS: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY &

NATURAL REMEDYKevin KF Ng, MD, PhD

Former Associate Professor of MedicineDivision of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Miami,

Florida

Discovery of Pulmonary Angiotensin Converting Enzyme and its Inhibitor in venom of Bothrops Jararaca

Mobile, AL

Statistics according to American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology

500,000 of Americans go to Emergency Room each year.

More than 40 people die from sting anaphylaxis annually.

Fire Ant may be the number one agent of inset stings.

Fire Ants cost Americans $6 billion a year including insecticides.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/insects/

http://www.extension.org/pages/14345/fire-ant-control:-the-two-step-method-and-other-approaches#.VOk8di58z30

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/georgia-woman-dies-fire-ant-sting/story?id=19706086

Problems: Pain, Itch, infection

Dr. Blake Layton, Extension Entomology SpecialistDepartment of Entomology, Mississippi State University

http://msucares.com/insects/fireants/sting.html

Natural history of fire ant sting from contact to resolution

1% Systemic Reactions

99% Local Reactions

Skin

0.95

0.05,

Composition of Fire Ant Venom

Solenopsin

Allergenic Proteins

Composition & Actions of Fire Ant Venom

95%: Solenopsin A

Angiogenesis inhibitor

neuronal NO synthase inhibitor

Cytotoxic (muscles, nerves, blood cells)

Insecticidal

Antimicrobial (fungus, bacteria, virus)

5%: Allergenic proteins (46)

Phospholipase A

Phospholipase A inhibitor

Cytotoxic (muscles, nerves)

Growth factor

Thioredoxin peroxidase

What is a Mediator and a Receptor ?

Stings Inflammation

Pus & Itch

Local Reactions to Fire Ant Stings

Pain, Swelling, Redness ,Warmth,

Treatment of Fire Ant Stings Inflammation & Itch

Home remedies

Ice

Vinegar

Ammonia

Sodium bicarbonate

Aloe vera gel

Over-the-counter products

Antihistamines (2% Benadry max strength)

Corticosteroids (1% Cortaid max strength)

Local anesthetics (20% Benzocaine max st)

Local analgesics (10% Trolamine salicylate)

Calamine lotion (8% zinc oxide)

Disadvantages of Current Topical Renedies

Low concentration of active ingredients.

Water-based formulations.

Inefficient and slow absorption.

Actions limited to 2 out of 14 mediators.

Many mediators act unopposed.

Therefore treatment is incomplete.

Inflammatory Mediators and Current Inhibitors

Sources of Phytochemicals in flowers, fruits, vegetables, leaves, barks & roots

Extraction of Phytochemicals

Botanical Products (Leaves, Flowers, Fruits, Barks, Roots in carrier medium).

Homogenizer

Centrifuge

Separation of Supernatant from Residue

Tests on Subjects

Effects of Phytochemicals on Inflammatory Mediators

Effects of Phytochemicals on Inflammatory Mediators

Effect of Phytochemicals on Fire Ant Stings

Untreated for 36 hours Treated for 36 hours

Hypersensitivity Reactions (anaphylaxis) to Fire Ant Stings

Systemic response:1

%

UrticariaAngioedema

PruritisBronchoconstricti

onHypotensionOrgan failure

Death“Cytokine Storm”

Hospital

Experimental treatment of Cytokine Storm

Corticosteroids

TNF-alpha blockers

ACE inhibitors and ARB

Gemfibrosil

OX 40 immunoglobulin

Antioxidants

Renin angiotensin system

Renin

angiotensinogen

Angiotensin I

Converting enzyme

Angiotensin II

CONCLUSIONS

The pathophysiology of acute inflammation has outpaced the treatment of fire ant stings.

The conventional topical treatment of fire ant stings needs to be updated in accordance with new scientific knowledge.

The abundance of phytochemicals in nature that targets multiple mediators of inflammation opens up new frontiers for the treatment of fire ant stings.

The phytochemicals are inexpensive, safe, effective and free from unwanted side effects.